I am really enjoying the silver bolero syllabus. There's a step I can't remember the name of (it has one of those typical DVIDA excessively wordy names), but it begins with an open check, and the man leads the lady to execute a spiral turn to his right side. They do a circular work for QQ, and then the man lunges to his right while leading the lady to execute a ronde which takes her around his right leg and behind him. She walks behind him for QQ, and when she reaches his left side, he pivots to face her again. They execute a mirror-image check to the man's left, and then it finishes with a lady doing a reverse spin on S. Lots of subtleties in the lead for this one; it's a challenge, but very satisfying when done right.
Perhaps, this should be in the Steps to Hate thread. I absolutely love bolero, and many of you know that I consider the learning of it to be one of the essentials to good dancing. However, it is, as you have described, these long, convoluted patterns that ruin the dance. Not to usurp the joy of it for you, I agree that the movements which you describe are beautiful when danced well. I just detest the compounding of same for the sake of making a syllabus. It makes the dance unnecessarily difficult to dance, and often stifles creativity. I was ecstatic when the old "Gold Bolero" was demoted into only bronze/silver.
Phew, that was scary!
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